Not an Outsider :
This State is famous for its ancient temples, culture and hoary traditions. I also had occasions to visit some of the temples, I am very much impressed. The people here are very simple in nature, God fearing, having unassuming character with no pomp and show. The traditional South Indian culture has not only attracted me but also made me to admire them. Despite language constraint and unfamiliar faces, due to the common aspects of indelible imprints of rich, high and noble traditions coupled with the quality of hospitality of the State of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, from the day one, I never though myself to be an outsider. I could discharge my duties to the best of my ability and capability with the cooperation of all concerned.
Inspired and encouraged
I have tired my best to discharge my duties with sincerity and with the active cooperation of my brother and sister Judges, members of the Bar, Officers and staff of the High Court. The Judicial Officers, members of the Bar and the staff in the subordinate Judiciary also extended their full cooperation in discharging my administrative functions effectively with satisfaction. I am fully satisfied that in response to my constant reminders, the members of the subordinate judiciary had disposed of about 22 lakh cases in 1 and half years, by 30-7-2001, which is remarkable. So also, with the cooperation of brother and sister Judges, advocates, staff, we have been able to dispose of 2.41 lakh cases in High Court. Each one of them deserves my appreciation. I offer my sincere gratitude to those who inspired, encouraged, cooperated and assisted me in discharging my onerous duties.
It is needless for me to point out the Judges and Advocates are equal in status being the officers of the Court. As Judges, we have to discharge our duties with detachment. Credit for a judgment doest not belong to the Judge alone but to lawyers also, whose assistance at the Bar will be very useful for a qualitative judgment. Ultimately, advocates are the Judges of the Judges. I appreciate the valuable assistance of the Bar.
Pleasant Company
To my dear and affectionate colleagues, I may say that I shall never forget the pleasant company I enjoyed with you all these years. You have been so affectionate towards me and my family, and that made us feel at home. I am indeed thankful to each one of my brother and sister Judges individually.
All the Officers and Staff in Registry have sincerely discharged their duties, which made my work easier. It is not possible to name all those who were instrumental for my effective discharge of duties, but few of them can be mentioned, Mr. K. Jayaraman Registrar-General, Mr. K. Sukumar Registrar (A.S.), Mr. V.C. Periakarppiah Special Officer (Vigilance), have been of immense assistance to me in the discharge of my administrative functions and my thanks are due to them.
Rs. 150 crores recovered:
The members of State Legal Services Authority, it’s Secretary, the Chairman, Legal Aid Committee High Court, Mr. Justice A.S. Venkatachalapathy, and its members and the Editorial Committee headed by Mr. Justice Jagadeesan and his Editorial Board for releasing the Legal Aid Quarterly Journal, “Sattapani Murasu” and Staff also deserve appreciation for their hard and sincere work. Shri Chaturvedi, Presiding Officer of Debts Recovery Tribunal, by negotiations settled cases and recovered 150 crores in a short spell, against the 30 crores by regular method of legal process, and now with the help of High Court Legal Aid Committee they are trying to settle the issue of about 100 cases shortly. Similarly, officers and staff of the C.I.A.A. Tribunal helped me a lot in discharging my duties, as Presiding Officers, C.I. A.A. Tribunal. I am thankful to the members of Rules committee, consisting of brother Judges, Advocate General and Senior Advocate S/Shri Habibullah Hadsha, r. Krishnamoorthi, A.I. Somayaji, for their effective steps in finalizing the amendments to the various Rules, so also to the members of the I.L.R. Committee consisting of Advocate general, Mr. K. Alagirisamy, Mr. G. Masilamani, and Mr. N.C. Raghavachari. I also appreciate the services rendered by the Committee consisting of Mr. Justice K. Sam path, S/ Shree Santhakumar and Vijay Narayan, Advocates and Nirmal Kumar and Sukumar, Registrar (A.S.) for making draft Mediation rules for the writ proceedings relating to Environment and Pollution matters known as Green Bench Mediation Rules with the cooperation of United States Asia Environment Partnership (Consulate General of U.S.A.). I also appreciate the work done by the A.G.& O.T.
Thanks to All- All are dear
It is not out of place to mention that Mr. V. Vijayan, deputy Registrar (Protocol) and staff in the Protocol Department, the officers and staff of “J” Section and Establishment Section also deserve appreciation and I express my thanks to them. As regards my personal staff, I have had a team of willing workers. Mr. K.Vasudevan, my private Secretary, and B.Hari, my P.A. deserves special mentioning here. S/Shri Balakrinan and R. Haribabu, my Court Officers and P.A.s/Shree M/s. N.Y. Rajalakshmi, S. Mohan, and G. Revathi, all worked hard and assisted me in my Court work. M/s S. Rajabathar, Chopdar, G. Dilshad Ahamed, Chamber Attendant, Ganesh Mandal and Suraj Pal, and Manivasangam, driver attached to me from the beginning and P.W.D. Staff working in my residence deserves appreciation for their sincere work. M/s Jebaraj and Yesu Rajasekarah, my Personal Security Officers, Sorimuthu, Rajan Babu, Rajan and Murugan, attached to Pilot Vehicles, Thrinavakkarasu, Driver, all did their duties well to my satisfaction. Mr. K. Vasudevan, P.S. and all my personal staff remained sincere, trustworthy, devoted and dedicated throughout and rendered valuable assistance. Hence I wish to express my gratitude to them now.
I have, in my own humble way, tried to live up to the highest traditions of the office of Chief Justice of one of the premier High courts of India and I express my unreserved sense of appreciation for the assistance, which you and in particular the above mentioned persons, rendered to me for the effective discharge of my duties.
